Intertwined Destinies

Jade Potter is a lonely girl from England who just happens to have a dark and secretive past. When she goes to Japan as part of a school assignment, she and seven other children are summoned to a strange world, where not all is as it seems. Just what is the Digital World, and how will everyone get back home again? Will they want to? And who exactly is Jade?

Chapter 7: Devimon and Separation


Jade woke up in the dark, and only the sound of everyone sleeping soundly kept her calm. She took a deep breath to calm herself down, and sat up to look around. Something had changed while she slept, and not wanting to disturb anyone she quietly got out of bed and walked outside the bedroom. Her feet didn't make a sound as she moved from the bedroom to the main room. She turned left with the intention of heading downstairs, but before she could go too far the painting of the angel rippled.

From the painting appeared a dark digimon who was humanoid in appearance, but looked closer to something created from the underworld. His wings stretched out as he landed on his feet, and his arms hung past his knees. Two devil horns shot out from the side of his head. Jade clapped a hand over her mouth and hid behind the railings. Her clothes were still in the room, and she wished that she had at least put her shirt back on. Instead she was just wearing a singlet and her shorts.

As the dark digimon stood up straight, Ogremon and Leomon walked into the room to join him. Jade knew that she couldn't leave without attracting attention, and even if she could have gone, she was completely frozen by the darkness below her.

"Ready?" the dark digimon asked.

"What a joy to be rid of the digidestined at last," Ogremon replied.

"And you, Leomon?" asked the dark digimon.

"I cannot disobey your orders," Leomon replied. The dark digimon laughed in satisfaction, and Jade shivered more. When he stopped and looked up the bedroom, Jade first thought she had been spotted, but then she heard Tai and Agumon making a move to the bathroom. The dark digimon leapt up and away, while Leomon made his way to the second floor and Ogremon went to meet Tai and Agumon in the bathroom. Jade stood to warn them, but before she could make a sound a cold hand wrapped around her head from behind and yanked her away.

Tai and Agumon walked to the bathroom without noticing anything different, and Jade struggled in the dark digimon's hold. His hand was so big that he only needed the one to cover her mouth and lift her from the ground. She was being held against his chest, but as soon as Tai and Agumon were in the bathroom, the dark digimon leapt onto the railing and held her out as if to drop her. Jade instantly stopped struggling.

"Hello, child," the digimon greeted, evil dripping from his voice. "You are not one of the digidestined, yet you travel with them…why?"

He turned Jade slightly, though he didn't remove his hand to let her speak. He stared into her eyes, and she stared back with fear. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he gasped.

"It cannot be…" he breathed in horror. "No, you died…"

Now Jade was puzzled. What was this digimon talking about now? There was a scream from the bathroom and Tai and Agumon ran from it screaming.

"Wake up everybody! Ogremon is here!" Tai was screaming. He and Agumon almost ran right into Leomon, who was standing at the end of the hall waiting for them.

"I must obey," Leomon rumbled. "Destroy them, the children."

"Why do you hate me?" Tai asked.

"He hates you because I commanded him to hate you," the dark digimon called. Tai and Agumon turned, and Tai gasped in horror when he saw that Jade was captive.

"Get ready Tai," Agumon warned. "Now the real trouble starts."

"Agumon, who is that?"

"That's Devimon," Agumon replied. "This is the guy who invented the nightmare."

Jade kicked her legs a little. Her hands were wrapped around Devimon's fingers to relieve the pressure on her neck, but Devimon showed no indication of letting her go. Devimon looked once at her, before returning his attention to the two opposite him and grinning.

"I have no further use for this imaginary building," he said. The building around them dissolved, and if Jade hadn't already been silenced she would have screamed in shock. As it was she started in Devimon's grip and shivered in fear. Devimon then turned his attention to the former bedroom, and lifting his free hand sent out a wave of darkness. The beds in the room were lifted from the ground, and all the children still in the beds screamed. Jade watched in horror, hoping that none of them fell.

"Because together you are strong," Devimon stated. "I will use my Touch of Evil to scatter you throughout the Digital World!"

"I hope this is a bad dream," Tai wished, watching the revolving beds.

"Tai, I'm too weak to walk," Agumon told him, startling Tai. "Even after all that food I've eaten."

"The food, the bath, the building…none of it was real," Devimon explained. Jade made a sound of understanding, she had wondered why she couldn't smell the food that everyone else had. It not being real solved her dilemma. "I created all of it from your imagination."

"Listen you!" Tai threatened, pointing at Devimon. "If you don't bring back my friends and put Jade down, you're going to be in really big trouble!"

"That's amusing," Devimon told him. "My concerns are much more important than your friends. And this one intrigues me. She alone was not swayed by my illusions."

"My friends are my only concern!" Tai replied. "You bring them back now!"

"Bring them back? You impudent brat! You dare to order me! Allow me to show you who's really in control here!"

Jade was flung behind Devimon, where she sat on the floor taking deep breaths. Devimon now raised both his hands, and sent a wave of darkness into the ground. And earthquake knocked them all off balance, and Jade cried out as the sense of dozens of Black Gears overwhelmed her. She heard Tai calling out for her, but she just held her head and curled up into a ball.

"You see, I have discovered the secrets of the Black Gears from below," Devimon explained, ignoring Jade whimpering behind him. "I call them forth to do my bidding!"

The earth shook more, and Jade forced herself to look up in time to see the very land they were on fracture into many different islands, each heading out to sea in different directions. Devimon was destroying the island.

"You and your friends happened upon this tiny island," Devimon continued. "Which is just one of the fragments of the old world, scattered across an enormous ocean. You pretend you are strangers who know nothing of this, but I am aware that you are the digidestined, who have been sent to rescue this world from my domination!"

"You got us all wrong!" Tai cried. "We were just some kids at summer camp who somehow got sucked into your world!"

"Your little act no longer amuses me," Devimon told him. "It's time to bring an end to the digidestined!"

"I will destroy them," Leomon promised in a monotone. Jade forced the darkness away from her, and crawled forward so that she could see Tai better. Leomon was right in front of him, and with Agumon weak from hunger and exhaustion, there was no hope. Agumon tried to fight, but his pepper breath was weak and dissipated before if even left his mouth. Leomon's attack however, pushed him away with ease.

"Now the boy," Leomon said. Jade watched in horror.

"Yes, then the others, one by one," Devimon agreed. "Once the irritating children are out of the way, nothing will be able to stop me! Now, do it Leomon!"

"As you command," Leomon stated. Jade felt desperate. She had to do something, but what? Energy blossomed within her, and suddenly she knew what to do. Her eyes went up to the beds still revolving in the air. She heard Tai scream out for help, and in a move too quick for Devimon to prevent Jade wrapped her energy around Tai's bed and threw it to the ground. Tai's digivice bounced from the bed and crashed into Leomon's foot.

Light erupted from the digivice, but it was different to when the digimon digivolved, this light was golden, and it caused Leomon pain. Jade focused her energy with the digivice and the darkness that was controlling Leomon disappeared. Jade smiled but Devimon was furious. He lifted her back into the air and shook her in anger.

"Stupid girl!" he barked at her. "Do you know what you have done?!"

"You will not win!" Jade told him.

"I have been freed from Devimon's powers!" Leomon cried, with far more genuine emotion in his voice this time. Tai picked up his digivice, and turned his attention to where Jade was still being held.

"Put her down Devimon!" he ordered.

"I would rather see her dead," Devimon barked back. He lifted a free hand towards the remaining beds in the air and cancelled the power he had on them. They started to fall, but Leomon interrupted his concentration long enough for Jade to wrap them in her own power and prevent them from falling. Her eyes were glowing again, and the bright green frightened Devimon.

Devimon flew up, Jade still in his grip. She fought to get free, and maintain a protective hold on the beds. Her energy was draining fast; she wouldn't be able to keep it up for long. An idea popped into her head. They couldn't remain on this fragment of the island, but the other fragments would be safe for them. If they could figure out how to disrupt the flow of energy, and reverse it, they would be able to get back to the main island. Decided, Jade thrust out her energy and the beds scattered in all directions.

"NO!" Devimon roared. "You insufferable child!"

"Leomon, get Tai away from here!" Jade screamed down to the lion digimon. "Do it now!"

Leomon didn't even consider disobeying her order, and thrusting his sword down into the ground, the ledge Tai and Agumon were on dropped into the ocean. Devimon roared in anger, but was unable to gather them all back. His anger was painful to Jade, and she screamed. Devimon used his anger to take control of Leomon again, and stood watching the children disappear. Leomon and Ogremon stood behind him, ready to obey him.

On the wind Jade heard Tai call out for her, but she was unable to answer. She was just happy that he was safely away.

"The digidestined survived our first encounter," Devimon growled. "But it won't be the last, I can promise them that. They must not interfere with my plans! They must be destroyed! Will you do this for me Leomon?"

"Your every order, I will obey," Leomon promised. Jade looked at him sadly. He had many more Black Gears in time now, and it chilled her to be so close to both him and Devimon at the same time. Devimon looked at her, still in his grasp.

"It seems that even in this weak form your powers are formidable," he told her. "I will not allow you to destroy everything that I have worked for, not now. You must be destroyed."

Jade shivered, staring up at him with a mixture of fear, and defiance. He glared at her, before throwing her further inland, away from the ocean. He stared down at her as she struggled to her knees, and then to her feet. Devimon considered her for a long moment, before smiling.

"Since darkness hurts you more than anything, I know exactly what to do," he said. "Feel my: Touch of Evil!"

Jade screamed as the darkness wrapped around her. She fought, and struggled, but it was way too much. She screamed herself hoarse, desperately wishing for someone to save her. In the back of her mind she could hear bells ringing, and she managed to look at Devimon one last time before darkness took her.

Everything went cold, and then there was nothing.


Devimon sat in his castle on top of Infinity Mountain. The little girl had surprised him, he had thought her dead a long time ago, before he had even considered taking over first File Island, and then the world. He remembered her though. She had great power unlike anything he had ever seen. He had been one of the few to see her die and would treasure that moment for the rest of his life.

But then she had returned. Why? Why would she come back after all these years? Why not sooner? He scowled and clenched his hands tighter together. The stupid little girl linked to the Sovereign was back in the Digital World, and now the Sovereign was awake. He would need to act quickly to take over the Digital World before she could create an army to take him down.

"Now that they're on their own those little intruders will meet their doom," he muttered angrily. "Nothing can stand in my way! The digidestined and the Sovereign don't stand a chance! Now, fly my Black Gears! Fly!"

The Black Gears took off rapidly, spreading to all the File Island Fragments, infecting them with evil and darkness. The Sovereign would be far too busy destroying them to worry about him and his masterful plan.

He only wished that he had killed the girl before the stupid angel appeared.


Tai was angry at himself. He and Agumon were currently running from Frigimon, a digimon who looked a lot like a giant snowman. Frigimon had a Black Gear sticking out of his back, but since Agumon was too weak to digivolve they were unable to fight back properly. Instead they were running, and now they were trapped against an ice cliff. Tai wished that he was with the others, for then at least they would be able to work together to get rid of the Black Gear.

The sound of bells echoed across the snowy plains, and Tai looked up to see where it had come from. Agumon gasped in shock as he saw what had caught Tai's attention, and even Frigimon stopped attacking. High above them, silhouette against the sun, was an angel with wings made of fire. They couldn't see her clearly, but what they could see was the golden sceptre in her right hand, resting on the ground. If Tai squinted, he could see her eyes.

They were bright green.

"Jade?" he breathed. The angel looked at him, and her wings extended as far out as they could go. She brought her staff in front of her, holding it with both hands.

I will protect you, for Jade, Tai heard in his mind. His eyes widened and he backed up a step. He knew that voice.

"Harmonious Flame!" the angel cried, spinning the staff in front of her to create a path for the flames to follow. Tai watched in awe as the flames engulfed Frigimon and destroyed the Black Gear. As soon as the Gear was destroyed, the flames dispersed and the angel flew up into the sky, and away from the island.

"The Sovereign is back," Frigimon breathed. "I never thought I'd see the day."

Tai looked away from the retreating angel, and looked at Frigimon.

"Are you alright Frigimon?" he asked.

"Yes, I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No, we're good," Tai promised. "Hey, have you seen anyone else here, some kids like me?"

"Come to think of it," Frigimon started. "I did see another boy like you. He was with a Gabumon. They fell onto that other island over there."

"You saw Gabumon?" asked Agumon.

"And Matt," Tai added, a smile on his face. As he turned to look the smile fell off his face. "Perfect, Matt would land that far away. It's too cold to swim, and we're drifting at 100 miles a year!"

"You're a weird kid," Frigimon told him. "But since the Sovereign protected you, I know that you are important. I'll help you get across the water. Sub-zero Ice Punch!"

Frigimon froze the water just before them, and Tai knew what the giant snowman was going to do. He was going to make them a bridge out of ice. Tai's face lit up, even though the walk was a long way.

"I hope your punches don't freeze up," he told Frigimon.

"Don't worry, as long as it's cold I'm full of punch," Frigimon reassured them.

"What if the ice breaks while we're out there?" Agumon asked. "We'd be Seadramon bait!"

Frigimon dispelled this theory by jumping up and down on the ice bridge. Satisfied that the two trust his ice bridge, Frigimon started to walk further out to create another section to the bridge. Tai and Agumon followed behind him, yet Tai couldn't help but look up to the sky. The Sovereign said that she'd protect them for Jade, did that mean that Jade was dead, and the Sovereign was doing what Jade would be doing if she was still alive? Or was Jade safe on Infinity Mountain and waiting for all of them to come? Or had Jade asked the Sovereign for help?

He didn't know anymore, but he did need to pick up the pace or he'd be left behind.


Matt felt awful. It was so cold, and his cough wouldn't disappear, and TK was missing. He knew that Gabumon would be angry with him for leaving the cave, but TK was his responsibility, he should be the one looking for him, not Gabumon. He was so weak, if he rested for just a few minutes he would be fine to keep going.

Silly little human

The voice echoed gently through his mind, and Matt looked up to see an angel. His first thought was that he had died, but if he had died he probably wouldn't be cold anymore. He reached out to the angel for help.

"T…K," he whispered. "My…brother. Where…is…he?"

Safer than you little human, said the voice again. Matt could hear bells, but he was too weak to think on it. His head dropped back into the snow. He was just too tired and cold to move. He wondered where Gabumon was. Voices echoed over his head, though this time there was no meaning to it. He felt warm arms come around him, and Gabumon's voice whispered in his ear, though he had no idea what was being said.

Rest, little human, ordered the voice. The one you call TK is safe

Matt nodded slightly, and relaxed. Gabumon was with him, and would take care of him. He was sure of it. When he opened his eyes finally, he realised that he was still cold but there was a blanket over him. He sat up when the blanket disappeared and saw Gabumon retreating behind some rocks.

"Gabumon? You …took off your fur, for me," Matt realised. "Thank you."

"It's good to see you're up and feeling – achoo! – better," Gabumon told him.

"Hey! You get me all warm, and now you have my cold! Bet you look pretty funny with no fur on Gabumon! Thanks!"

"No problem, Matt."

"Matt! Gabumon!"

Matt and Gabumon turned to look outside the cave. They easily recognised Tai's voice and Gabumon leapt forward with excitement, sneezing as he did so.

"Matt!"

"Tai!"

The two boys grabbed each other's hands when they were close enough to, the happiness of the reunion clear. It was like they had relaxed slightly, now that they weren't alone anymore.

"We thought we'd never find you!" Tai said happily. "It sure is lucky that we met up with Frigimon."

"Frosty the Snowmon here?" Matt asked.

"Yep, this is him! He happened to see you two fall on this island, and then he got us here in no time."

"Sub-zero Ice Punch, you know," Frigimon stated easily enough.

"Have you seen anyone else?" Matt asked, hope in his voice.

"No, when it rains kids I usually notice. You were the only two who fell here. If there are more of you, they must be on the other islands."

Matt did his best to relax. He vaguely remembered an angel telling him that TK was alright, but he wasn't with Tai so therefore he had to be with one of the other kids. He hoped so anyway.

"Poor TK," Matt whispered.

"Don't worry," Tai told him. "We'll find him!"

Gabumon chose that moment to sneeze, letting the others know that he had a cold, and Frigimon walked off mysteriously. Tai looked to Gabumon curiously.

"How'd you get a cold anyway?" he asked. "You're the one with the fur."

"Stop making fun of him!" Matt snapped, pulling on Tai's arm. "Leave him alone Tai!"

"Hey! Why don't you chill out Matt! I was only trying to see what we could do to help him!"

Gabumon sneezed again, and Agumon told him to head back into the caves for a rest. The two digimon walked off, and the two humans watched him go.

"We have to figure out what we're going to do next," Tai said as the digimon disappeared.

"Isn't it obvious?" Matt asked. "We have go search for all the others."

"Yeah, right, but how are we supposed to do that? You heard what Frigimon said, everyone landed on different islands. Unless you've got airplane stashed around here someplace, I think we're stuck."

"So I guess we'll ask Frigimon for help?" Matt asked, clearly not too keen on the idea.

"Weren't you listening to me?" Tai asked in reply. "He said they're scattered all over the place. He only has two arms, he's not an octopus."

"Then I'll have to make a raft out of some of these trees, okay?"

"Matt, calm down. What's eating you dude? I'm on your side. I'll help you get off this island if we have to build surfboards okay? Look, the others will be fine without us, for now we've got to focus on the real deal."

"Real deal?"

"What, I gotta spell it out for you? We've got to know if this island is heading towards that place Devimon talked about."

"That's not the real deal! You dufus! There's nothing more real than our friends, and finding them, and getting us all back home safe and don't you ever forget it! You want to ditch your friends to go look for a faraway land, then go ahead, but I'm not coming! I'll find TK, I'll find all of them, by myself!"

Matt turned and started to run, and Tai only had a few moments to blink in shock and run after him. Being the faster of the two Tai was easily able to gain on Matt and tackle him to the ground. He started to talk about how on the other side of the ocean was potential help to find the others. He was hurt by Matt's accusation that he didn't care, he cared a lot and he would never forgive himself if anything happened to any one of them.

"I know how you feel Matt," he said softly. Matt stopped struggling under him, and turned slowly to look at Tai. Tai watched him, his guard down, and then Matt punched him in the face. Tai fell backwards with a pained grunt, and Agumon appeared at his side, looking at him in concern. Matt stood up and loomed over Tai.

"You haven't got a clue how I feel, Tai! You're acting like such a jerk!"

"You think I don't know?!" Tai screamed at him. "You have your brother, I get that! You feel responsible for him! But guess what Matt? TK has Patamon with him to protect him! I brought Jade into this world and she has no one! She's still with Devimon and there's not a single friendly digimon around her to help her! If anything happens to her it will be my fault because I left her alone after I promised to keep her safe!"

"Tai, that's not your fault," Agumon said slowly. "It's not your fault Jade is here."

"Until I find proof otherwise, that's what I'll continue to believe!" Tai told him, tears in his eyes. He looked back at Matt. "The Sovereign told me that she was protecting us as a favour to Jade, but she never said that Jade was alright! Jade could be dead, and it would have been because we weren't strong enough to save her, because I wasn't strong enough!"

"Tai," Matt whispered, his own rage suddenly forgotten. He knew Tai cared, he'd seen it often enough during their travels, and he had seen how attached he was to Jade. He'd seen how the boy would ignore his own injuries, putting his health at risk, just so Jade would feel safe and belonged in the group. Tai stood up, pushing away his own tears and faced the blonde boy with as much strength as he could muster.

"You still think that I'm a jerk Matt?"

"No," Matt replied, shaking his head as tears dripped down his cheeks. "I'm sorry I said that, but it's like you said. TK's out there on some strange island and he's all alone. I know Patamon's with him but I don't know if he was injured, or if his bed got down safely, or maybe Patamon was injured and TK doesn't even have his protection. I'm scared for him, he's my responsibility."

"I know Matt," Tai sighed. "I know."

"I know that now, Tai," Matt said desperately. "I'm sorry I hit you."

"Forgiven."

Silly little humans, but so entertaining

Tai and Matt spun around, looking in all directions before looking up. Matt saw the angel who had spoken to him during the night, and Tai saw the Sovereign again. The two digimon grinned at the sight of their idol. The Sovereign was sitting on top of a tree, legs swinging as if she were on a chair instead of twenty metres off the ground.

"Sovereign," Agumon called in greeting. "Why don't you come down?"

I have work to do little digimon, the Sovereign said in their minds. The Black Gears are poisoning my digimon; I must act to eradicate them.

"Sovereign! Wait!" Tai called. "Is Jade alright? Please, I must know."

The one you call Jade is still alive, but she is weak

"She's alive," Tai breathed, sinking into the snow in relief.

"And TK?" Matt asked. "Is he hurt?"

Your brother is safe, and having the time of his life I believe. He is in the Primary Village

"He'll be safe there Matt," Gabumon said. "The Primary Village is where baby digimon hatch."

Matt sighed in relief as well. The Sovereign smiled down at them, her sceptre sitting across her knees. Her eyes swept over the land and as she found what she was looking for she spread her wings and flew up into the air. They watched her go, before Tai and Matt decided that it might be a good idea to follow her. They came to the edge of a cliff, where they almost ran into another ice digimon, this one known as Mojyamon.

Mojyamon looked like a snow monster, with huge feet, big ears, and wicked sharp teeth. His fur was greyish white to blend into the snow, but the Black Gear in his chest prevented any of them from attempting to be friendly. They considered running, but Mojyamon charged at them before they could figure out where to go. They jumped to the side, and Mojyamon ran passed them. But when he turned the children and digimon realised their mistake.

"Oops," Tai breathed, looking over the side of the cliff. "We're trapped."

"I can see that Tai," Matt informed him. "What do we do?"

"Climb down as fast as we can before he forces us to fall?" Tai suggested. Matt looked at him incredulously, just as Mojyamon thrust a thick icicle into the ground and breaking their ledge free from support. They fell straight down, but unlike the first time they had fallen off a cliff, there was no water underneath them to break their fall.

There was Frigimon.

Matt and Tai landed on Frigimon's head, and as he fell back Agumon and Gabumon fell on his stomach. Frigimon was unhurt, but he had dropped the food he had been carrying on the ground. He looked at the children who were sitting up, looking amazed that they were alive after such a fall.

"It's raining kids and digimon again," Frigimon observed. "I'm going to have to start carrying an umbrella."

"Thank you Frigimon!" Gabumon and Agumon chanted together.

"Good timing," Matt told him.

"Without you, we'd be as flat as pancakes!" Tai added.

"Well, next time try not to land on my head," Frigimon told him. Tai grinned happily enough. "Here, I brought some food."

"Excellent!" Tai cried in delight, grabbing the offered food. "Let's eat!"

"And it's good!" Agumon cried with delight as he accepted another bundle of food. "And it's tasty, just the way I like it."

Frigimon smiled at him before handing over what looked like grass to Gabumon. He explained that it was an old cold remedy that worked really well for the other digimon who weren't suited to the snowy plains. Gabumon immediately put it all in his mouth, before gagging on the awful flavour. Frigimon smiled at him, before a growl behind him alerted him to the fact that Mojyamon had followed the children off the cliff. The children ran off screaming, but Frigimon turned and prepared to fight.

Why does everyone think fighting solves everything?

All eyes darted upwards, where the Sovereign was standing on the edge of the cliff. Her sceptre was spinning in front of her already, so Tai and Agumon staggered backwards further so they wouldn't be caught in the attack. Matt and Gabumon followed their lead, but Frigimon never moved.

"Harmonious Flame!" the Sovereign cried. The flames bore down on Mojyamon, removing the Black Gear from his front. Mojyamon dropped to the ground, free of the Black Gear's influence at last. Frigimon sighed in relief, and picked up the now much smaller Mojyamon.

"That's better," he said. "Back to regular Mojyamon size."

"I feel like I was just run over by a Monochromon!" Mojyamon declared.

The Sovereign lifted into the air again, but this time she didn't go far before turning to face the mountain. Her wings grew brighter as the flames became bigger, and completely ignoring her sceptre, the Sovereign flew at the mountain side without considering her own safety. She collided into the mountain and as the rocks fell free, the inside of the mountain could finally be seen. Hundreds of gears sat innocently by, protected by the rock. They were struggling to turn, but the children couldn't believe how many gears were actually inside the mountain. The Sovereign flew at the mountain side again, and as she bounced back unharmed, the flames of her wings had altered the direction the gears had been trying to turn.

"Look! We're heading back to Infinity Mountain!" Tai cried with delight.

"And Devimon," Matt added.

"Yeah, hopefully the others will make it back as well."

"Together we can do anything," Matt said. "Have faith Tai, we'll be together again soon."

Don't worry about the others, they will meet you back on Infinity Mountain

"Thank you for your help Sovereign!" Agumon called.

"I hope we see you again someday!" Gabumon added.

Silly digimon, of course we'll meet again

The Sovereign flew away from the island, the sound of bells echoing after her. Frigimon and Mojyamon sighed in delight.

"Ah, the Bells of Truth," Frigimon said. "Such a beautiful sound."

"Bells of Truth?" Matt asked.

"The Sovereign in the Guardian of Truth," Mojyamon explained. "So when we hear her bells, we call them the Bells of Truth because it means that she is nearby. They haven't been heard for so long we've almost forgotten what they sounded like."

"Do you think she's gone to help the others?" Matt asked.

"She said she'd protect us because of Jade, so I guess that means she'll protect the others as well," Tai told him. "All we can do now is wait."


Izzy stared up at the walls of the temple with an enrapt expression on his face. His computer was on his lap and he was ignoring everything that was going on around him. Tentomon was standing behind him, looking bored, and on the other side of the little room were Mimi and Palmon. In the corner of the room twirled one of Devimon's Black Gears.

"Izzy, any ideas on how long this is going to take?" Mimi asked. "I mean, can we go some time before winter sets in? Izzy?"

"Izzy, your friend is asking you a question," Tentomon prodded.

"Yeah, and her rear end's getting cold sitting on this stone floor doing nothing," Mimi added.

"Mmm, oh wait! Wait! Yeah, yeah! That might work!" Izzy said to himself, tapping away at the keys on his computer. Mimi stood up in frustration and annoyance. Tentomon started to panic, recognising that Mimi was about to lose her temper.

"Ah, Izzy?"

"Are you ignoring me, you computer geek, pipsqueak?" Mimi asked furiously.

"Okay, so if I make the variable constant and search for factual patterns…hey, here's something," Izzy continued to mumble, not having heard a word his friend was saying. "Prodigious! These ruins are a gigantic maze!"

Mimi continued to glare at the back of Izzy's head, her anger getting stronger and stronger. Tentomon shuffled away from her nervously, but despite his continuous calls to Izzy, the boy had no idea what was going on behind him.

"I'm leaving! Right now!" Mimi suddenly screamed, before bursting into loud tears. At that Izzy turned around, finally realising that something had changed in the mood of the others. Palmon copied her partner, and giant tears dripped from both their eyes.

"Don't cry Mimi," Tentomon pleaded. "Oh no, not you too Palmon! Izzy, do something!"

"Do what?" Izzy asked. "My laptop can't do everything!"

"I don't know," Tentomon continued, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his voice. "Tell her you're sorry!"

"Sorry? For what?"

"I can't take it anymore! I haven't had anything to eat and my feet are killing me and a giant lemon custard tried to kiss me and all I want to do is get out of here!" Mimi wailed.

"I just want to leave, is that so wrong?" Palmon asked. She darted forward so that she was standing in front of Izzy. "Honestly Izzy, how can you be so insensitive?"

"Insensitive? What do you mean?" Izzy asked, way beyond confused. He had no idea how to handle crying girls.

"You ignore us while you poke away at your computer," Palmon explained.

"I'm not ignoring you!" Izzy protested. "I'm doing something ultra-important like maybe saving this world! If I can just decipher these hieroglyphs then maybe we could-!"

"Just keep your stupid hieroglyphics!" Mimi screamed at him. She turned and ran, and seeing that Izzy wasn't standing up to follow her, Tentomon flew after Mimi to make sure she'd be alright. Palmon stayed by Izzy, still berating him.

"You just like playing on your computer!"

"You think I'm just playing around here?"

"I almost think you like computers more than people!" Palmon burst into more tears, and Izzy turned around to get some help from Tentomon. He gulped when he realised that they were alone.

"Don't look now, but Mimi and Tentomon are gone."

"Now what do we do?" Palmon asked, tears disappearing instantly. Izzy shrugged, but placed his computer on the ground and led Palmon back outside. Palmon walked around for a bit, looking for Mimi, but the girl and Tentomon weren't anywhere to be seen.

"I don't see them anywhere," Palmon stated. "Where could they have gone?"

"They didn't go deeper into the maze did they?" Izzy asked, turning to look at the temple.

"That would be my guess," Palmon replied with a nod.

"The deciphered hieroglyphs tell me the inside of this temple is a giant labyrinth," Izzy explained to Palmon. "So if that is the case…they could be lost in there forever."

"Forever?!" Palmon cried in horror. Izzy nodded seriously before heading back into the temple to where his laptop was still waiting for him. Palmon waited by the door for him, but upon seeing him sit down and recommence typing on his computer, she walked over with confusion plain on her face. She looked over his shoulder and watched as a plethora of letters and numbers flashed by on the screen.

"Oh I can't bare it!" she finally declared, turning back to the door. "I'm going in!"

"And get lost yourself?" Izzy asked her without turning around. "No Palmon, we've got to use our heads for this."

"But we can't just leave them!"

"We won't, but this is one super complicated maze. We've got to try and get a handle on it. Then maybe I can help get them out."

Palmon moaned in worry, but nevertheless, remained by Izzy's side and watched as he used the computer to work. As he worked, Palmon studied him. He really was a strange boy, and didn't seem to connect with the other kids at all well. Palmon thought back over the days they had been together, and realised that Izzy hadn't even spoken with Jade. What could have made a young boy like Izzy fear human connections?

"Why don't you like the other kids?" Palmon eventually asked.

"What? I do like them."

"You never speak with them," Palmon pointed out. "And I think you do like computers more than you like people. But, why?"

"Computers are easier to understand than people," Izzy told her, staring blankly at his computer screen. "When everyone around you is lying to you, or keeping secrets, computers are always honest and have never tried to deceive me."

"Who deceived you?"

"My…parents," Izzy whispered. "I…don't want to talk about it Palmon."

"Oh, okay," Palmon replied. She wondered what Izzy's parents had gone that had broken his faith in people. She made herself comfortable and thought a little more. Despite not liking people, or trust people to be more accurate, he was still doing something to help Mimi and Tentomon.

"There they are." Palmon looked closer at the picture of the screen in puzzlement. Izzy had pulled up a picture of the labyrinth and there was a tiny red dot blinking up in the corner.

"That's Mimi, that blinking light?" Palmon asked.

"Precisely," Izzy stated. He clicked on the red light and a voice that sounded like Tentomon echoed from the computer's speakers.

"No, no, not that way."

"Oh buzz off! Leave me alone!"

"That's my girl!" Palmon cheered as they heard Mimi scolding Tentomon. Izzy grinned happily, his earlier thoughts about his parents retreating into the back of his mind.

"I've homed in on the signal from her digivice," he explained. "We can hear her, let's hope she can hear us."

He pulled a microphone and headphone set from his bag and attached it to his left ear. Palmon looked at it curiously, but assumed that it was something that all humans used to communicate and didn't question him about it.

"Izzy to Mimi, do you read me? Repeat, do you read me?"

"Izzy, is that you?" Mimi asked.

"Alright! It's working! Okay Mimi, I'm going to navigate for you so walk exactly where I tell you to."

"Uh," Mimi uttered, not entirely confident in Izzy's abilities.

"Don't worry, it'll be okay," Palmon told her, leaning in close to the microphone. "He knows what he's doing."

"Is that you Palmon?" Tentomon asked.

"Just do what Izzy tells you and you'll be out of there before you know it!"

For the next several minutes Izzy gave direction after direction to Mimi, and she followed them without too much protest. Even when she was asked to walk along a narrow ledge to get a across a room with a false floor, she obeyed. Izzy was so focused on getting Mimi to safety, that he didn't realise there was another in the maze with her. This new addition was highlighted in yellow, but Izzy had no idea what it could have been.

Tentomon informed him that Centarumon, a half man half horse digimon, was baring down on them. They started to run and Izzy quickly studied the layout of the maze to wither get them out of get to them to provide help. He saw it quickly and handed out rapid instructions before abandoning his computer and running outside with Palmon close behind him.

"Where are we going?" Palmon asked.

"We're going to help them!" Izzy called as he ran. He picked up a fairly large rock and started to bash it against the side of the temple. Palmon saw his plan and started to help him. They needed to make a big enough hole so that Mimi and Tentomon would be able to escape. There was an explosion from inside and Izzy hit the wall harder. A hole appeared and Mimi's relieved face turned to look at them in relief. Izzy felt relief too, for a moment he had thought Mimi would be on the other side of the room.

"Get out of there!" he ordered. "Hurry! Come on!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Mimi told him, already making a run for the opening. Centarumon didn't like the idea of that and charged up the weapon on his arm. Palmon lurched forward to protect Mimi, digivolving as she entered the room.

"Palmon digivolve to – Togemon!"

"Leave me friends alone!" Togemon ordered, punching Centarumon's arm so that the humans would be protected. Unfortunately, what Togemon didn't know was that Centarumon had the ability to alter which arm became a weapon. Izzy spotted it and darted forward to protect Mimi, and Mimi was only able to spare him a glance of shock before Tentomon jumped forward and digivolved.

"Tentomon digivolve to – Kabuterimon!"

It was then that they realised exactly how big their digimon got when the digivolved. Due to the size of the small room, the digimon were pressed against the wall and were pinning the two humans to the wall behind them. Mimi groaned a little, looking up at Kabuterimon who was in front of her. Izzy was completely frozen. By some luck he had managed to avoid all of Togemon's sharp needles, but it was near thing.

"I forgot," Mimi said. "When you get bigger, you get a lot bigger, don't you? Watch where you step!"

"Oh, sorry," Kabuterimon apologised.

Centarumon fired his weapon at the pinned group and the force of the blast sent them all outside and destroyed the wall keeping them inside. Togemon ended on her stomach but when she rolled over and stood up, it was to see a figure standing on the roof the temple.

"Well that's one way to get out of there!" Mimi said, dusting off her clothes and sitting up.

"Yeah, but this is no time for us to be taking it easy," Izzy told her. "Look who's here!"

Centarumon exited the temple and glared down at them. Kabuterimon fired his Electro Shocker at Centarumon, doing his best to protect the children. Togemon stood as well, but it wasn't to fight Centarumon. She watched as the figure on the temple roof swooped down, and a jet of fire hit Centarumon from behind at the same time as Kabuterimon's attack hit him from the front. A Black Gear exploded up into the air before disintegrating.

"That felt…interesting," Centarumon stated before collapsing to the floor. Izzy and Mimi were both focused on that fact that there had been a Black Gear inside the digimon, but there was one member of their group his attention was focused elsewhere.

"I don't believe it," Togemon breathed. "Protector?"

All eyes went up to where the flying figure curved around and landed up beyond them. Centarumon stood up again, still unsteady, and his eyes dropped from the figure. He bowed respectfully.

"Sovereign, please forgive me," he said. "I was not in control of myself."

I know, loyal friend, Devimon has much to answer for

"Sovereign?" Mimi repeated. "The demigod Patamon was telling Jade and TK about?"

I have a name you know

"Your true name hasn't been uttered in this world for many centuries Sovereign," Centarumon explained. "But the legend of what you have done for us still lives on. This temple was made to honor what you did for us."

I noticed that as I flew over. Whose idea was that?

"I believe it was the Numemon," Centarumon told her. "You saved them during a battle with the Dark Masters."

Dark Masters, fools they were. But I was distracted and they were able to cast me down.

"Who distracted you?" Izzy asked curiously.

There is no word for our relationship, though I suppose it would be like your relationship with your digimon.

"Oh," Izzy said, looking up at Kabuterimon. Both he and Togemon de-digivolved and walked closer to their partners to make sure that they were alright. The Sovereign smiled down at them. Centarumon stared sadly at the ruined wall before looking back at the children with the intention of apologising to them as well.

"That device on your bag…" Centarumon said instead, his eyes fastened on Mimi's bag. Mimi looked down and realised that he was looking at her digivice.

"This?" she asked.

"I have seen it before," Centarumon continued.

Of course you have. I believe I told you to watch out for it…didn't I?

"You did, but it's been so long. The digidestined are back?"

Explain it to them Centarumon. I must leave you now.

"Wait! The others?" Izzy cried. "Are they alright?"

They are fine. Farewell for now. I assure you that we will see each other again.

The Sovereign flew up into the sky before disappearing into the distance. They watched her go without saying a word, but then Centarumon led them further into the temple. They followed him willingly enough, and in the centre of the labyrinth they found a chamber that housed a statue of an angel. The angel was holding a stone model of the digivice out to them, and there was a smile on her face that welcomed them.

"This is our protector, the Sovereign of this land," Centarumon explained. "This temple was made shortly after she disappeared at the insistence of the Numemon. It was she who told us that one day the digidestined would return to protect us in her stead, and to remind us that she would one day return this temple was frequently visited. I am its guardian, and I am deeply sorry for attacking you."

"Do you know who the Sovereign is?" Izzy asked curiously. "This statue of her, is it an exact likeness?"

"What do you mean Izzy?" Mimi asked.

"Well, look at it," Izzy told her. "Doesn't it remind you of someone?"

Mimi stared at the statue for a long moment before gasping.

"That's impossible," she breathed. "But then why wouldn't she–?"

"If she didn't remember," Izzy explained. "How could we know?"

"But then, right now? She would have said something, right?"

"The Sovereign was greatly injured when she first came to us, and then as she left us as well," Centarumon explained. "She may not completely remember who she is, but this I know. The truth will set her free."

Mimi and Izzy looked at each other. Things had just gotten that little bit more complicated.

"I think we should work on getting back to the others," Izzy said eventually.

"I agree," Mimi told him.


Outside the temple Leomon was facing a problem of his own. He had tracked down the digidestined to the temple of the Sovereign, but he hadn't considered that he would meet the Sovereign just outside. His mind was being controlled by Devimon, but even being completely subservient, he knew that he could never attack the Sovereign. She stared down at him without speaking.

"I must obey," Leomon told her.

Then obey me, return to Devimon and make sure that the children remained unharmed. They are under my protection.

"Yes Sovereign."

Oh Leomon, you used to know me so much better than that

Leomon both enjoyed and feared the sound of her laughter. The sound of her voice could drive back the darkness and strengthen the light. There was a time when Leomon could have listened to her speak all day just feel the warmth, but as there was darkness controlling him, he wanted nothing more than to escape. He turned and ran.

Maybe he could obey Devimon's orders in another way…that would leave the children strong enough to face him.

The Bells of Truth sounded after him, and he knew that the Sovereign was going after the other Black Gears. Leomon decided that it was time to slowly make his way back to Devimon. Maybe he could drop by Primary Village on his way. The digidestined wouldn't be there, surely?


Next up in Intertwined Destinies:

Chapter 8: Angels